Would-be buyers and browsers check out International Auto Show in San Jose

SAN JOSE -- The International Auto Show has rolled into town, enchanting Silicon Valleyites with new models featuring hyper-efficient engines, cutting-edge technology and multi-tasking consoles catering to your driving and nondriving needs.

Mustering their vaunted marketing savvy, Detroit and Toyota City lured thousands to McEnery Convention Center on Saturday with carnauba sheen and LED shine, as well as the old standbys of sleek styling, plush and comfy seats, quick acceleration and 10-spoke wheels. The show ends its four-day run Sunday.

For the testosterone-heavy crowd, "product specialists" in high heels and low-cut shirtwaists rattled on about HVAC features, electronic torque and triple titanium exhaust systems. But mostly, the objects of adoration were the cars and all things high-tech inside.

Steve Rank, of San Jose, and kids Andrew Rank, 5, and Emily Rank, 2, sit in the new Chevrolet Corvette at the 2013 Silicon Valley International Auto Show in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. (John Green/Staff)
(JOHN GREEN)

Way more than other states, California is tuned in to electric vehicles, hybrids, the latest technology and miles per gallon, car representatives said.

In fact, Chevrolet will unveil its Spark electric vehicle next summer only in California and Oregon. And a model on display at the show is catching some buzz.

"We've had people constantly," said Anne-Marie Damman, explaining that the Spark will travel 80 miles on one charge, accelerate from zero to 60 mph in eight seconds and will integrate its navigation, smartphone and Siri voice-recognition features into one system.

Its $32,500 sticker price dissuaded some browsers -- especially when compared with the under-$13,000 price tag for the gas-powered Spark -- although Damman pointed out that federal and state rebates will bring down the EV's price to below $24,000.

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Benjamin Yee, 60, and his wife, Cheemin Bo-Linn, were inspecting various Toyota Priuses as a potential replacement for her Corolla. "We're at a transition stage in life," said Yee, of San Jose. "After the specter of $5 a gallon gas, something like a hybrid probably is more practical."

In fact, crowds surrounded Toyota's displays of its new hybrid Avalon, an electric RAV4, the Prius plug-in and others.

Whether or not they offered hybrids and electric vehicles, carmakers still called attention to the new bells and whistles on electronic dashboards, like Chevy's OnStar and MyLink, Acura's HomeLink and Cadillac's Cue, all of which integrate mapping systems with music and other features.

Not everyone was impressed.

"There are too many things to push there," said Jared Cariaga, 27, of Fremont. "I find it distracting, almost as bad as texting."

He and his friend, Julie Burch of Fremont, were sitting inside an Acura ILX tech hybrid. He'd prefer more of the ancillary gadgets be placed in the center console, instead of on the dashboard.

But Burch, 27, was taken in. "I like the styling and the body," she said.

Upon learning the car was rated at 38 MPG, she said, "That's awesome."

At the Lexus display, Darren Owyang, 31, of Castro Valley was attracted to the CT 200h hybrid's style. "I like the sleeker and aggressive look," he said about the sporty model.

But some would-be buyers were examining practical details.

Donna Schroder, 63, of Fremont, said she preferred the Lexus ES 300 because the navigation system's screen was surrounded by a glare shield. "I just want comfort and a keyless system so I don't lock my keys in the car." She and Marsha Parker, 63, also of Fremont, decided the auto show was a good place to check out new models without having to talk to a salesperson if they didn't want to. And, Schroder pointed out, fellow visitors to the show were knowledgeable and helpful.

Annette Lee, left, and Jeffrey Henrichs, from Houston, check out the new Chevrolet Spark at the 2013 Silicon Valley International Auto Show in the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. (John Green/Staff)
(JOHN GREEN)

Many weren't preparing to buy and were just looking. Chris Koontz, 30, of San Jose test-rode as a passenger in a Jeep over an obstacle course that demonstrated the SUV's clearance, stability, suspension and traction. It drove down a 35-degree slope without the driver braking. "It was something else," Koontz said.

But the new models don't offer improved mileage over the older ones. So Koontz, who already owns a '96 Jeep, isn't trading it in.